Brasília – Senator Mara Gabrilli, who has been tetraplegic since a car accident in 1994, expressed concern over the delay by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in authorizing the use of polylaminin, a compound developed in Brazil as a potential therapy for spinal cord injuries. The senator said that the long evaluation process has frustrated patients and researchers who see promise in the treatment.

Gabrilli acknowledged the importance of scientific rigor but stated that the regulatory pace must also consider the urgency of patients living with severe disabilities. She emphasized that years of waiting for decisions discourage innovation and limit access to experimental therapies that could restore functions or improve quality of life.

The case, she argued, reflects broader systemic challenges in Brazil’s health regulatory framework, including the need for clearer pathways for advanced therapies and better coordination between research institutions and the agency. Gabrilli called for Anvisa to implement prioritization mechanisms for high-impact therapies and greater transparency in approval timelines.

Source: Folha de S.Paulo

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